49ers-Jags Part 1

Let’s get to it shall we? I hear the 49ers will pass because of the Jags injury at corner. We’ll see.

49ers first drive: First time all year the 49ers have scored on their first drive. They went with a standard formation just once in their nine play drive. They used three receivers four times and two tight ends the other four occasions but they spread them out. They also used an empty back field a couple of times. Alex Smith rarely went to his first receiver, going to second and third reads throughout the drive a great start. 3-0. Smith was 4 for 6 for 42 yards on the drive. He threw one bad pass and had another knocked out of his hands. His clock seems to be hurried up on the drive.

Jags drive: Maurice Jones-Drew is diminutive, but the 49ers located him on that drive, and Patrick Willis nearly decapitated David Garrard on third down. The 49ers couldn’t have a better start.

49ers drive: 3 and out. The 49ers went with one standard two-back formation with Vernon Davis spread out and got no gain against a Jags blitz. It looks like Jacksonville might blitz more, they only did it twice on the first drive. Smith had a miscommunication with Crabtree on third, which I believe was on Crabtree because he was facing press coverage. Go deep on press.

Jags drive: The 49ers are certainly tackling better in this game and they are getting to Garrard. Mark Roman smashed him on a blitz, the second big hit for Roman today. The 49ers seem to be confusing the Jags with their blitzes. 49ers force a punt thanks to an intentional grounding call. On third down, Niners rush three and Ahmad Brooks hit Garrard right after he threw.

49ers drive: Smith was 2 for 3 for 5 yards on the drive and he had a first down on third-and-5 but Davis dropped the pass. They continue to use the shotgun mainly out two tight-end formations. Safety Curtis Taylor was injured on special teams. It looks like a knee injury and the cart has been summoned.

Jags drive: Jones-Drew gets 17 yards despite a near sack by Justin Smith I believe. First quarter stats: Gore leads all receivers with 4 catches. They are saying Taylor has a hip strain, his return is doubtful.

Jags Cont: A good return and the 17-yarder set up the slanked field goal attempt. Someone in the press box called the attempt flacidly right. Ouch. 49ers still lead 3-0.

49ers drive: What a drive, and great call on the TD with old fashioned, west coast bootleg pass to a wide open Davis for the 3-yard TD. What the 49ers are doing is throwing to left far more often today and they are finding room, particularly the 27-yard catch-and-run by Crabtree to get the ball to the 9. Again, mostly shotgun formation out of two tights and three receiver formations on the drive. The Jags are vulnerable to the spread because they don’t rush the passer and their best corner is hurt. But the 49ers really are getting comfortable with the shotgun. 10-0.

Jags drive: Two interception chances go wanting, particularly Manny Lawson’s opportunity on second down. Patrick Willis hit Garrard and caused a floater that Lawson dropped. Willis now has two big hits on Garrard.

49ers drive: The third drop by Vernon Davis didn’t help this drive. The 49ers go three-and-out.

Jags drive: Penalties undue the Jags. The 49ers seem to be over powering them on defense, which causing the flags.

49ers drive: Alex Smith continues to make good decisions, he fled the pocket at just the right moment to get the 49ers into Jacksonville territory. It looks like the 49er are going for it on 4th-and-1. I like Singletary’s natural inclination to go for things.

49ers drive: Maybe the best pass of the season from Alex Smith. An instance before he got crunched, he completed a 30-yarder to Vernon Davis. Unbelievable.

49ers drive cont: What a great pass by Smith that’s going to be reviewed. Singletary and Jimmy Raye were saying all week that Smith was throwing as well as anyone in the league. After this game I believe it. He’s made some remarkable throws.

Play stands

Notes before the half: Smith is 18-for-19 for 169 yards and two scores. His 29 attempts are the most in one half and the 18 catches ties a career high for a half.

Jags drive: The 49ers do allow a field goal drive by the Jags to make it 17-3. They the defense looked like they were in slow motion on that drive.

Interesting that this week Singletary said that having Smith throw it around 40 times would be a trouble. So why not throw it 60 times? It’s working against an opponent they’re not supposed to beat. What’s lost in this offensive explosion is the play of the defense. They’ve been in Garrard’s jersey throughout the first half and have tackled much better. Ray Ratto is right, this offense needs the defense to be successful. One other note about the spread, you can have Davis drop three passes in a single half and still have him catch five passes for 61 yards and a TD.